ROC hierarch: Today's church situation in Ukraine is a test of our faith

Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk. Photo: pravoslavie.ru

On August 7, 2019, the chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, shared his thoughts on the church situation in Ukraine in his interview, reports Patriarchia.ru

“The Church has a universal character. Despite the fact that it exists in the form of Local Churches, its oneness is not diminished. Unfortunately, it happens that the Church is equated with a public institution and used for political purposes, as is happening now in Ukraine, forgetting that it is a divine-human organism,” Vladyka Clement emphasized.

According to the bishop, “this can lead to tragic consequences”: “Political issues should be discussed by diplomats and statesmen, and they should not be confused with church life. Each institution of society has its own goals. The church’s goal is to save people, and it’s sad that even among church leaders there are those who, blinded by pride, interfere in the affairs of another Local Church at the request of politicians.”

“The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Pochaev Lavra, and other spiritual centres are the shrines of our entire Church. I prayed before the relics of Rev. Job of Pochaev during the difficult Khrushchev years, then we were all united in the defence of our shrines. Today's church situation in Ukraine is a test of our faith. We must pray for peace in Ukraine and church unity,” he concluded.

We remind that earlier the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, expressed hope that the new government would return the rule of law to the sphere of State-Church relations and put an end to raider attacks.

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